RESEARCH
Gastrointestinal Health
Bovine colostrum has long been utilized as a preventative and active support during times of gastrointestinal distress. A horse’s GI tract is a frontline defense for pathogens entering the body, assisting with the natural balance of essential microbes. Colostrum has been shown to combat effects of ulcers, leaky gut and intestinal permeability to help reduce gut damage.
Performance and Recovery
It is known that strenuous physical activity can negatively impact the immune system and its response to stress and foreign pathogens. Colostrum supplementation has been shown to reduce recovery time in a Thoroughbred racing study, as an example of its ability to positively affect physiological factors.
Immune Support and Function
It is well-documented in peer-viewed studies, colostrum is rich in hundreds of immune-supporting bioactive components. The major contributing components include immunoglobulins, cytokines, growth factors, lactoferrin, lysozyme, peptides including proline-rich polypeptides (PRPs), and many others.
Resources
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Blake, S. (1999) Bovine colostrum: The forgotten miracle. Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association 18(2): 39-40.
Borissenko, M. (2022), Colostrum and the Performance Horse: Semantic Scholar. Colostrum and the Performance Horse, https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Colostrum-and-the-Performance-Horse-Borissenko/b2123efaa8ed537bfe277cb949b6af5f36f62c33.
Ellis J Colostrum (2015) Colostrum: It offers more than passive immunity. Innovative Veterinary Care https://ivcjournal.com/colostrum/
Fenger, CK, et al. (2014) Bovine colostrum supplementation optimizes earnings, performance and recovery in racing thoroughbreds. Comparative Exercise Physiology 10(4): 233–238.
Fenger, CK, et al. (2016) Enhanced bovine colostrum supplementation shortens the duration of respiratory disease in Thoroughbred yearlings. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 42(5): 77–81.
Getty, JM (2016) Colostrum: an exceptional superfood. Getty Equine Nutrition, LLC, https://gettyequinenutrition.com/pages/colostrum-an-exceptional-superfood.
Homles MA and Lunn DP (1991) A study of bovine and equine immunoglobulin levels in pony foals fed bovine colostrum. Equine Veterinary Journal 23(2):116-118.
Pakkanen R and Alto J (1997) Growth factors and antimicrobial factors of bovine colostrum. International Dairy Journal 7: 285-297.
Playford RJ and Weiser MJ (2021) Bovine colostrum: Its constituents and uses. Nutrients 13: 265.
